Bung.



No. 796,141. PATEN'TEDAUG. 1, 1905. ,L. MUELLER. v

BUNG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1906;

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEro LOUIS MUELLER, OWOSSO, MICHIGAN.

BUNG."

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April '7, 1905. Serial No. 254,269-

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification. 1

This invention relates to new ancl useful improvements in bungs, moreespecially adapted for closing the bung-hole of beerkegs and likepackages; and it' consists in the construction and arrangement of artshereinafter fully set forth, and pointe out particularly in the claims.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and efficient meansadapted for use in connection with the ordinarybushing, whereby thebung-hole may be quickly and firmly closed in a manner to permit of theready removal of the bung when desired.

A further object is to so construct the parts as to keep the contents ofthe keg or package from contact with the rubber or compressible gasketand from contact with the screw-thread which detachably joins the partsthat compress said gasket.

A further object is to provide means for compressing or expanding thegasket, to tighten the bung in the bushing through the application of asuitable key, and to afford, in connection with said key, means forwithdrawing the bung when loosened.

A further object is to so shape the parts with which the key engages asto revent the removal of the bushing by use 0 any other tool and to soshape and position the parts as to allow the member to which the key isapplied to lie within the outer end of the bushing, whereby it isprotected from injury and the liability of its becoming struck throughthe handling of the package, so as to loosen the bung, is obviated.

The above objects are attained by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the wall of a keg or p-alpkage, showing in section the ordinarybu g therein and project the tapered ear members 9.

showing in elevation my improved bung 4 within the bushing and the keyin operative connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a sectional View throughthe bushing and key. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the parts of the bungand the key disassembled, the key and plug of the bung being in section.Fig. 4 is an elevation of the end of the key. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe bung.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates theordinarybushing with a tapered a erture therethrough. Adapted to fittight y within said bushing is a tapered plug 2, the major diameter ofwhich is larger than the minor diameter of the tapered opening throu hthe bushing, whereby the parts are caused to fit tightly together whensaid plug is crowded into the bushing, as shown in Fig. 2,the jointbetween the lug and bushing excluding the contents of the keg from thecompressible gasket 3, which lies upon the top of the plug. As will beseen, the plug 2 is hollow and is internally threaded, as at 4, toreceive the threaded stem 5 of the compression-plate 6, adapted tocompress and expand the gasket 3, which is annular in form and throughwhich the stem 5 passes. Interposed between the plate 6 and the top ofsaid compressible gasket is a metallic washer 7 to relieve the frictionbetween the plate andcompressible'gasket as the stem 5 is turned. Thediameter of the compressible gasket 3 is such as to tightly fill theopening through the bushing, and said gasket is made tapering tocoincide with the taper of said opening.

Upon the compression-plate 6 is formed a central conical boss 8, fromwhich laterally These ear members are adapted to passthrough the opposednotches 10 in the wall of the central opening 11 in the head of the key12. Communicating with said notches is an undercut way 13, into whichthe ears 9 are adapted to pass when the key is placed over said ears.and turned. The way 13 is divided transversely bya wall 14, which formsa stop against which the ears engage, thereby preventing a furtherrotation of the key independently of the plate 6 and threaded stem 5 andcausing as the key is further turned the threaded stem to screw withinthe plug 2, re-

sulting in a compression of the gasket between i the plate 6 and plugand an expansion of said gasket against the Walls of the bushing in amanner to securely bind the bushing in place and hold it against removalby internal pressure. To withdraw the bushing, it is only necessary toturn the key in the opposite direction to unscrew the stem 5, therebyrelieving the pressure upon the gasket 3 and allowing it to contract,when by pulling outwardly on the key the bung may be removed, the earsbeing locked to the key for this purpose by their engagement in theundercut way in the head of the key. To detach the key from the bushing,it is only necessary to turn it so as to cause the notches 10 therein toregister with the ears 9, when said key may be freely removed.

It will be noted that the plug 2 is closed at its inner end, therebypreventing the contents of the keg from coming into contact with thethreads which unite the plug and the stem 5, whereby said threads areprotected and prevented from becoming corroded.

By protecting the rubber gasket from the contents of the keg the life ofsaid gasket is prolonged and said contents prevented from becomingcontaminated.

This bung may be used in the bushings which are now commonly employedand because of its character may be used over and over again with equalfacility.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, isa 1. The combination with abushing, of a bung comprising a hollow plug fitting within said bung, anexpansible gasket upon said plug engaging the wall of the bushing, acentral stem screwing into the plug and having a compression-plate whichengages said gasket,

and means For rotating said stem to expand the gasket against the wallol the bushing.

2. The combination with a bushing having a tapered aperturetherethrough, a lapered plug litting within said bushing, a compressiblegasket lying upon said plug, a threaded stem carrying acompression-plate screwing into said plug to cause said plate to expandsaid gasket, and means for rotating said stem.

3. A bushing, comprising a. tapered plug closed at its inner end andhaving a central threaded socket, a tapered gasket lying upon andcoinciding with said plug, a. threaded stem passing through the gasketand screwing into the plug, said stem carrying a coinpression-plate adapted to engage said gasket, ear members projecting from said plate anda key adapted to receive said members to lock said parts together.

4. The combination with a tapered bushing, a tapered plug closed at itsinner end and having a central threaded socket, an annular compressiblegasket lying between and coin ciding with said plug, a threaded stempassing through the gasket and screwing into said threaded socket, saidstem having a compression-plate adapted to engage said gasket and havingears projecting from the outer face thereof, and a key adapted to engagesaid aars to lock the threaded stem thereto and enable a rotation olsaid stem by the rotation of said key.

in testimony whereof .l sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

LOUIS MUELLER \Yitnesses:

O. B. Banxz'mnn, 1. G. llowLnrr.

